Accra, May 12, GNA – The Center for Africa Development and progress (CADeP) has called on Ghanaians to change their cultures in the face of the Coronavirus pandemic to achieve the necessary goals.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has made the world a leveler for all kinds of people, whether rich or poor. The responses to the Covid-19 pandemic are simply the amplification of the dynamic forces that drive socio-economic and ecological crises.”
A statement signed Johannes Koku Nyagblordzro, Executive Chairman of the Centre and copied to the Ghana News Agency on Tuesday said “the COVID -19 appear to be a global problem, and socially driven through advancements in technology with its repercussions on human existence and what has happened to the world requires a deliberate mental and environmental revolution among the nations emanating from this tiny virus.
“Therefore, tackling COVID – 19 will be easier if economies reduce non-essential economic activities. Now, the epidemiology of the disease is quickly evolving, and in these times of state protocols compelling people to observe social distancing, restricting the movement of people, banning public gatherings coupled with the closure of borders, many of non-essential activities have been curtailed.
The statement said the pandemic had placed every human being on equal level, and it required an affection with one another to compel people to refrain from displaying the posture of superiority or inferiority towards any race, colour or creed.
“What CADeP wants to say is Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Now is the time for every one of us to review our own behaviour, the conduct that will accelerate all of us to go into action, for us to become that best person. With good behaviour, one can inspire others as a true and responsible person, and this behaviour will influence others just like the way the virus infects. And that will be the beginning of the Pandemic’s Better Behaviours worldwide.
The statement said the pandemic was a great awakening to enable the people humble themselves, and shun undesirable tendencies towards one another and learn to be kind, and live exemplary lives by impacting the society with unique personalities.
“The things one does for him or herself are gone when one passes on, but the little things that people do for others remain their legacy for a long time.
The purity of the heart holds supreme in one’s dealing with people, and the person stands to carve a good name better than riches.”
It said a lot of people were not happy with their lives on the advent of Covid-19, and should not be angry with their respective countries for what they don’t have.
“With most businesses operating at low capacity, the affluent people should design a blueprint on how to assist the jobless gain some income generation work.
The closing of borders and the banning of public gatherings which is aimed at slowing down the spread of Covid-19, has placed pressure on global economies, resulting in the world facing serious recession.
The statement said corrupt practices by the people in the helm of affairs should be condemned in no uncertain terms, as it derailed the process towards bringing back the economy on track.
CADeP urged Ghana, and other African countries to create the enabling environment towards economic emancipation, with less dependence on foreign aid and cut down expenditure, and consider its agenda towards Ghana beyond aid, pursued with the urgency it deserved.
The statement said media reports of stigmatization was unacceptable and condemned all those involved in the practice.
The statement called for more education on the virus and stigmatization as everyone could fall victim and called on recovered victims to take leading roles in the educational campaign programmes.
The Government, the statement urged to develop strategies on how to mop up funds from taxes to cater for the unemployed and less privileged, as practised in the advanced countries, which has the advantage of assisting the governments in carrying out the development agenda in social harmony.
“We need a change of economic and social mind set, starting with the citizens seeing more opportunities differently in untapped fields of endeavour to allow them become more productive.
This can only be achieved by using these challenges we are faced with as a motivation, and be able to turn them into useful innovations.
“The way forward will be to allow as many businesses and institutions as possible to keep on operating, but adhering to the state protocols.
A strong, democratic state should be built around mobilizing resources for establishing stronger social intervention systems and prioritize health care for the protection of the vulnerable from the whims of the local and global activities, while creating the enabling environment for citizens to live in zero hunger, good health and wellbeing, in line with the Sustainable Development Goal – 2, 3.
GNA